Card Design: Scribbles Designs Challenge Launch

I am so thrilled to be designing for Sandy Sommerfeld of Scribbles Designs.  I have admired Sandy's work for several months now and was so thrilled when she asked me to be part of her inaugural design team.  It is such a pleasure to be in on the ground floor as they say and part of a spectacular design team.

Starting today, January 15th, the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog goes live.  The challenge rules are simple.  Challenges occur monthly on the 15th beginning at 7am PST.  Please use a Scribbles Designs image, following the theme of the challenge. You can enter as many times as you'd like and you are welcome to combine your entry with other challenges.  However, we ask that you enter new projects/cards only - no back linking.  Challenges ends at 9pm PST on the 14th of the month. Winners of the previous month's challenge will be announced on the next challenge posted on the 15th of each month and the winner, chosen by Random.org will receive 3 digital images.  Additionally, there will be 1 digital image handed out for each of the Top 3, chosen by the Scribbles Designs Design Team.  We really hope that you will all join us for our very first challenge.  We are starting a brand new adventure and would love for you to be part of it from the start!

You can purchase your Scribbles Designs images HERE.
You can also find some free sentiments from Sandy's personal blog HERE.

To get you motivated, here is a card I created using one of Sandy's fabulous free sentiments.


Here is the front of the card...

And here is the inside...

This card has significant meaning for me as it was the first well laid out, hand made card I had ever sent to my cousin Karen.  Well there was a Christmas card a few months previously but I had JUST started making cards so that one was really, really, basic.  Anyways, this card is significant for another reason as this is the first, yes I said first, birthday card that I have ever sent her.  Now some of you may be thinking, 'wow, they must not really be a close family if this is the first card she ever sent her' BUT there is a reason why this is so.

You see, I never knew Karen existed until a day back at the end of November, 2011, when I got a phone call from my mother informing me I had another cousin.  Now, at first I thought, "My uncle has fathered another child?  The man is 70 years old for crying out loud."  But no, that was not it.   My uncle and the woman he was with 45 years ago, had a child that they put up for adoption and NEVER told anyone in the family about.  Karen went searching for her birth family about 12 years ago and found her mother relatively quickly.  Unfortunately, her mother only knew that her father was in Costa Rica but not how to contact him.  Then in the summer of 2011, my uncle was in Canada and gave Karen's mom a call.  He met Karen at that point and in time she got the contact information for my mother and contacted her who of course contacted me.  

I was so overjoyed that I actually had tears running down my face.  You see, I am an only child.  I grew up with 2 first cousins both only children and both males--and one of whom always seemed to resent me growing up.  Now I find out that not only is there another cousin out there, but she's a girl and only 3 months younger than I am.  I've missed out on a lifetime of getting to know her and am so thrilled she is now in my life.  So, this post is dedicated to my first cousin Karen.  May it be the first of many, many birthday cards she will receive from her long lost blood relatives.

Here are the card details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything...

• Keep in mind that this card was made at a time when I knew nothing about making sure your character is grounded so she does look a little funny just floating there.  So, think of her as Birthday Cake Angel flying to bring you in a sweet slice of numiness.  Her wings are just invisible that's all.
• The outside sentiment is one of Sandy's Scribbles Designs digi sentiments available as a freebie HERE.  Please take some time to check out all the freebies Sandy has available on her blog.  I'd also encourage you to head over to her store HERE for more wonderful designs for purchase.  It is printed onto Recollection's Cardstock White Paper.
• Digital stamp of the lady holding the cake is from Milk Coffee Stamps. It is coloured using Copic(R) markers.  Seeing as it was over eight months since I created this card I'm going on memory for some of the colours.  Okay, really I'm just guessing but they sound like they'd work.  Hair:  E000, E31, E33, E37.  Flesh:  E000, E00, E02; I might have used some E11 for deeper shading; R20 for rosy cheeks.  Clothing:  BG 10???, BG 15 (shorts);  Y13, Y15 and Y17 (top)--there might by Y11 in there too;  Sorry I know R34 is in there somewhere but I can't remember what I put with it and I don't have either my list or markers upstairs (vest and shoes). Cake:  Candles: Y11, Y13.  That should about cover it.
• The inside sentiment is from TLC Creations.  It is also printed onto Recollection's Cardstock White Paper.
• Paper:  The card base is from Dollarama(R) purchased as part of a pastel paper pack awhile back; the yellow dotted background paper, the yellow/white/pink paper and the 'accessories' paper on the inside left is from Recollection's All Girl paper pad purchased at Michael's; the hot pink paper I used to back the image (ie. shadow) is from some of Michael's open stock scrapbook paper.
• The hot pink pearl-like embellishments were purchased at Dollarama.
• A couple of the challenges requested flowers.  There are a number of pink flowers in the background paper.  

Challenges I will be entering the card into:

• Make It Monday -- MIM #123:  Anything Goes (always)
• Challenges For Everybody --  Challenge #11:  Anything Goes 
• My Heart Pieces Digital Stamp Challenge -- Getting Girly
• Divas By Design Challenge -- Anything Goes
• ATCs and Cards With Attitude  -- Challenge 31:  Add A Tag or Sentiment/Anything Goes
• Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude -- Challenge 31:  Add A Tag or Sentiment/Anything Goes
• Wags 'n Whiskers Rubber Stamps -- Challenge 95:  Celebrations 
• Paper Crafting Journey -- Anything Goes
• Artistic Inspirations Crafts  -- Challenge 24:  Anything Goes
• Through the Craftroom Door --  Challenge Jan 15th-21st 2013
• Catch the Bug Blog  -- Week Long Birthday Bash:  Anything Birthday
• 613 Avenue Create -- Challenge #2:  Anything Goes
• Dream Valley Challenges -- Challenge #48:  Anything Goes
• Glitter 'n Sparkle Challenge Blog -- Challenge #15:  Use a Digi
• The Squirrel and the Fox -- Challenge #35:  Anything Goes
• Lexi's Creations -- Challenge #81:  Anything Goes
• Word Art Wednesday -- Challenge #62:  Hearts/Anything Goes
• Digi Darla's -- DDC #45:  Anything Goes
• Joyful Stamper -- Inspire Me Fridays 91: Anything Goes 
• One Stitch at a Time Challenge -- Challenge #146:  Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly  -- Anything Goes
• Jen's Digi Stamps -- Challenge #1:  Celebrate
• Simply Create Challenges -- Linky Party #17
• Paper Pretties Blog -- Brads
• MyPaperCrafting.com -- Weekly Link-Up Party
• Shelly's Images  -- Anything Goes
• 2 Sisters Challenge Blog -- Challenge #126:  Celebrations
• Pin and Tack -- SYCN Challenge #5: Anything Goes
• Forever Friends Challenge Blog -- Birthdays
• Inky Chicks -- Anything Goes
• Bunny Zoe's Crafts -- Anything Goes
• Lady Anne's Challenges -- Anything Goes
• Cards Galore Challenges -- Anything Goes
• Crafty Blogger's Network -- Flowers
• Digital Tuesday Challenge -- Flower Power 
• Crafter's Digital Art Centre --  Anything Goes 
  

Some more challenges may be added to this list throughout the week or month.

I apologize if there are any formatting issues.  This is a scheduled post and we all know Blogger has a mind of it's own.  If it turns out that something looks wonky, I'll fix it as soon as I'm able to.

Thanks so much for stopping by and please leave some love if you have the time.

Until next time,

Tuesday Alchemy Challenge #47

It's time for my first challenge as a Design Team member over at Tuesday Alchemy today!  Challenge 47 is about Hopes, Dreams & Resolutions, and there's TWO awesome prizes up for grabs!

A $10 Gift Certificate from

AND

count them, seven Digital Images from

 

  

So head on over to

and join the challenge!

Now, it seems fitting that we had to make a project based on our hopes and dreams and/or a new year's resolution.  I'm not one for making resolutions but I do try to set goals for myself.  Thus, I came up with the perfect thing for me to work on this year--CONFIDENCE!  If you've been following my blog these past two months you know that I've struggled with the issue of believing in my own talents and abilities.  So, working on building confidence as one of my aims this year just seems fitting, doesn't it?

Here is the front of the card I created as my very first project as a design team member (can you tell I'm proud of that fact, or what)...

 and here is the inside of the card...

Hmmmm.....Maybe I should mail this card to myself as incentive.

Anyways, here are the card details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything...

• Digital stamp of the mouse and bear is from Beccy's Place (clicking on the link will take you directly to the free image).  It is coloured using Copic(R) markers.  Flower:  Y11, Y13, Y15 and Y17. Mouse:  R20, R22 (ears); C1, C3, C5 (body).  Bear: R20, R22 (ears); W1, W3, W5 (body); B00 (eyes); B00, B02, B05 (jacket); G20, G24 (ascot and hankerchief).  Ground: G00.  I also used a black watercolour pencil to add the texture of fur to both creatures.
• Paper:  The card base and thin turquoise blue vertical strip on the front is from Recollection's Cardstock Paper--Cape Cod collection purchased at Michael's; the green and yellow/green floral paper and the blues/greens/ivory floral paper I used are both from the K & C Company--The Best of K & C 360 page paper pad that I got at WalMart.  The small blue square from the front and rectangle from inside is from a pastels collection I picked up at Dollarama awhile back.  The base for the 'believe' tag and the inside sentiment are from Recollection's Cardstock Paper--White paper pack.
• I cut the tag out by hand after stamping it with a Studio G stamp using Mememto Bahama Blue.  The inside sentiment is an awesome one from TLC-Creations.  Thanks Paulette for the inspiration behind the creation of this card.
• The theme over at Stamp Your Life is New Beginnings and your interpretation of that.  For some that may be a new baby, a new house, or a lifestyle change.  For me it is all about a new attitude of believing more in myself and working on my confidence.
• This is also my first official use of a sketch (okay, well there was that one I stole I mean borrowed from a design I saw Crafting Vicky use).  It is from My Favourite Things, sketch 99.  Now, since I've never posted a sketch on my blog before, I'm going to assume I'm allowed to since I've seen other people do it.  Someone please let me know if I'm in the wrong.

 Challenges I will be entering the card into: 

• Hiding In My Craftroom  -- HIMCR #78: Freestyle
• ATCs and Cards With Attitude  -- Challenge 30:  Anything Goes/Celebrations
• Lady Anne's Challenges -- Sentiment - Anything Goes
• Fat Pages and Cards with Attitude -- Challenge 30:  Anything Goes/Celebrations
• Fussy and Fancy Challenge --  Challenge 79:  Furry Friends
• Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges -- Challenge 52:  Anything Goes
•  Stampin' for the Weekend -- Challenge 24:  Anything Goes 
• Wags 'n Whiskers Rubber Stamps -- Challenge 94:  Anything Goes 
• Crafty Ribbons Challenge --  Challenge 35:  "Blue & Green"
• Delightful Challenges -- Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations Paint -- Inspired By: Anything Goes
• DYSU Challenge Blog --  DYSU #104:  Turquoise 
• Little Miss Muffet Challenges -- Challenge 51: Anything Goes 
• My Heart Pieces Digital Stamp Challenge -- Anything Goes
• Paper Crafting Journey -- Anything Goes Challenge
• Simply Create Challenges -- Linky Party #15 
• Make It Monday -- MIM #121:  Anything Goes (always)
• Challenges For Everybody --  Challenge #10:  Anything Goes 
• Simon Says Stamps Challenge -- Simon Says...Anything Goes
• Word Art Wednesday -- Challenge #60 - Faith/Anything Goes 
• Paper Makeup Stamps  -- Digi Makeover Challenge #69:  Anything Goes 
• Artistic Inspirations Crafts  -- Challenge 21:  Celebrations/Anything Goes 
• Simon Says Stamp and Show -- Anything Goes
• Tuesday Throwdown -- Bright and Happy Colours
• Divas By Design Challenge -- Challenge 66:  Anything Goes
• Stamp Your Life LLC  -- New Beginnings (see above for expanation of how card fits this theme)
• Through the Craftroom Door --  TTCRD Challenge #51:  Anything Goes
• Beccy's Place  -- January Challenge
• Papertake Weekly  -- Anything Goes

There may be a few more added to the list throughout the week.

Well I guess that is it for my very first post as a DT member.  Thanks so much for stopping by and don't forget to leave some love if you have the time.

Until next time,